Queer Lives, Queer Methods

This session focuses on how sociologists study queer lives. Over the 21^st century, there has been an increase in LGBT+ rights. In 2000, same-sex sexual acts were legal in 111 countries while no countries had legalized same-sex marriage or gender marker change. In 2025, same-sex sexual acts were legal in 142 countries, same-sex marriage was legal in 38 countries, and gender marker change was legal in 32 countries. Yet, LGBT+ rights remain limited or nonexistent in many African and Asian countries.

This session will bring together sociologists who study queer lives to talk about how they conduct research and their experiences conducting this research. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Ethical issues in conducting research on queer lives
• Locating and recruiting queer participants
• Measuring gender and sexual identities and behaviors
• Researcher-participant relationships in the study of queer lives
• Determining what research to share
• Researcher experiences in the field

We hope to tap into both qualitative and quantitative research as well as research conducted in locations around the world, both in areas with extensive LGBT+ rights and those with more limited rights.